Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today asked Japan to support the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar during a meeting with a delegation of Japanese lawmakers led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso.
He also called for greater Japanese investment, expanded bilateral trade and stronger cooperation in human resource development.
A delegation of the Japan‑Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League met with Tarique Rahman at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 15:00 local time, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin said.
At the meeting, the prime minister expressed gratitude to Taro Aso for his ongoing contributions to strengthening Bangladesh‑Japan relations through his leadership of the parliamentary friendship league.
He also recalled meeting Aso in 2006, when he visited Japan in his capacity as the BNP's senior joint secretary general.
Tarique Rahman said that Aso had consistently played a positive and constructive role in developing bilateral relations during his tenures as Japan’s prime minister, deputy prime minister and finance minister.
He added that Aso’s long‑standing personal engagement with Bangladesh had also helped deepen the friendship between the two countries.
Both sides emphasised the need to strengthen political, economic and people-to-people ties.
Following the signing of the Bangladesh‑Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, Tarique Rahman appealed to Aso for support in attracting greater Japanese investment to Bangladesh, expanding bilateral trade and enhancing technology transfer.
He also voiced optimism that Japan will continue to assist in implementing Bangladesh’s development priorities and in developing a skilled workforce.
The prime minister invited Aso and members of the parliamentary friendship league to visit Bangladesh, saying he hoped the trip would further strengthen parliamentary friendship, mutual cooperation and bilateral relations.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs‑1 Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon were present.
Senior Japanese lawmakers, along with Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Tatsunori Ibayashi, also attended the meeting.
Tarique Rahman arrived in Tokyo at 9:15 a.m. local time today, beginning a four‑day official visit. He is heading a high‑level delegation comprising 16 members.
Why it matters
The high-level talks in Tokyo advance bilateral economic cooperation and secure Japanese backing for critical humanitarian priorities like Rohingya repatriation.